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Michigan State's Branden Dawson named one of country's best rebounders, Denzel Valentine named among top passers

Denzel Valentine, Branden Dawson

Michigan State guard Denzel Valentine (45) talks to Branden Dawson after Michigan State started with a 10-0 run against Kentucky during an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Michigan State may be losing three of its starters from a team that won the Big Ten tournament and made the Elite Eight.

But the two starters coming back are already being rated as some of the best in their respective categories.

ESPN.com recently named top returning college basketball players in a variety of different categories, and a pair of Spartans landed on different lists.

Forward Branden Dawson, who considered jumping to the NBA after his junior season, was named one of the six best rebounders in the country for 2014-15.

Dawson averaged a team-high 8.3 rebounds per game last year in 28 games, and better than nine boards per game in four NCAA tournament games.

ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg notes that nearly three of Dawson’s rebounds per game were on the offensive end and that he’s efficient, grabbing one rebound per three minutes on the floor.

“Dawson runs the floor hard and puts himself in position to grab an offensive rebound off of a quick shot. On the defensive end, he is physical in his block out and quick enough to release and rebound balls outside his area,” Greenberg writes.

As a sophomore, Valentine recorded 144 assists last year, second on the team only to Keith Appling, and turned the ball over 1.8 times per game.

“Valentine uses his size and offensive versatility to put pressure on the defense. Although he is a high-risk, high-reward passer, it is his vision that makes him so good. He sees plays early and plays with his head up, which is essential for a great passer,” Greenberg writes.

Both Dawson and Valentine were the only Big Ten players to make their respective lists.